A moment of silence, please.
Maybe it's for a grandfather who fought in World War II. Maybe it's for a brother or sister who gave their life in Desert Storm. Or maybe it's for an uncle that was a Prisoner of War in Vietnam.
For the Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps, one moment of silence is not enough for Veteran's Day; every year they hold 24 hours of it in honor of members of the military who left to defend their country but didn't come back.
"Veteran's Day is important because there's a lot of people we don't know what happened to," said Jason Pinkerton, a fourth-year College student and Cadet First Lieutenant in the Air Force ROTC.
For others, Veteran's Day is a time for remembering those who served before them.
"It's for all those people that had done it before me," said Sarah Reed, a third-year College student and Cadet Second Lieutenant in the Air Force ROTC. "I felt that I owed them something."
The vigil started Monday at 4 p.m. and continued until 4 p.m. Tuesday. Two members of the Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC marched across the stage of the Amphitheatre at all times during those 24 hours.
Any member of Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC could participate and all performed the same tasks for the vigil -- while carrying an unloaded rifle, each person marched back and forth 21 paces.
At the end of the vigil, a ceremony was held where the Air Force's presidential honor guard performed a 21-gun salute.
Many ROTC members said they consider the event one of the most important of the year.
"This is one of the more meaningful things I get to do in ROTC," said Eric Hutter, a third-year College student and Midshipman of the Navy ROTC.
Being in ROTC and marching in the vigil holds special meaning for those like Hutter who had family members in the military. Hutter comes from a long family history of serving his country. He said his grandfather served in three wars and his great uncle was a POW.
"I look at all the great experiences my father and grandfather gained from the military, and if I could gain half as much, that would be fantastic," he added. "I really enjoy the idea of one day being able to serve my country" like them.
Reed said she shares a similar family history of serving the armed forces.
"Both of my grandparents fought in World War II," she said. "I'm recognizing them when I do things like this."
While most of the vigil participants have been in ROTC since they arrived on Grounds, not everyone who joins is planning on a career with the military.
"I saw the Air Force as a good opportunity to see what was out there," Pinkerton said. "I like the idea of serving my country."
In addition to events like the vigil, ROTC members also perform several services for the community. The Air Force ROTC makes sandwiches for the Salvation Army and also puts on Halloween Fun Houses for kids.
The Arnold Air Society, a service fraternity within the Air Force that was one of the vigil's sponsors, also regularly performs community service.
In addition to being part of the U.S. military, ROTC members combine student and professional life.
"I feel like all of the ROTC services are representative of the U.S. military," Pinkerton said. "I feel proud that I'm a member of the U.S. military and that I'm doing something that's benefiting society. [ROTC] is a good way for people to find out what the military is about if they have any curiosity at all"
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